30 more pardoned prisoners released from Kamiti

Thirty more inmates have been released from the Kamiti Maximum Prison five days after president Uhuru Kenyatta pardoned over 7000 inmates during the Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Read also: Uhuru Kenyatta pardons 7000 petty offenders

While addressing the press during the release of the inmates on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent of the prison, Mr David Kiplang’at, expressed hope that the pardoned inmates would be accepted back into society.

According to Mr Kiplang’at, most families had been hesitant to accept former inmates back, forcing many to remain in the facility, despite having finished their sentence.

“Some families and communities refuse to accept their people back. For such, the inmate has to remain in prison and we are forced to set up constant forums between the inmate and family to allow a process of healing to occur,” he noted.

Peter Ouko, a man who had been in the prison for over 19 years, was among the thirty who were released on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old man was in 1982 charged with the murder of the mother of his children, in what was alleged to be a love triangle.

He however maintained his innocence over the murder, adding that the body was found behind Buruburu Police Station.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, the father of two expressed joy at being reunited with his family after close to two decades.

His niece, Carol Kinaga, said it had been a difficult time for both families (the inmate’s and the victim’s) to accept and forgive Mr Ouko.

“It has really been a difficult journey for all of us, particularly me. There was a lot of bitterness, but we had to forgive and try and let life go on, despite the challenges we had to go through,” said Carol.

Mr Ouko, who is also the man behind the Crime si Poa Initiative, which is a campaign against crime across the country, said he hopes he would be able to blend into the society he left 19 years ago.

“I can now do film making, I studied theology, I can craft, aside from the fact that I have a law degree, I want to go out and practice what I have taught myself,” he said.

Peter hopes to attend his children’s graduation in December, as he plans on reconstructing his life.